AUSTRALIAN men’s netball team wing attack Riley Richardson has said Mildura product Jake Hederics is a “great shot” to be selected for the national squad again this year.
The duo – who play together in the Victorian state team – were in town last week to run a clinic for Wentworth District Football Netball Club at the invitation of Jake’s sister and Roos’ netballing identity Amanda Edwards.
Richardson has been a national team, known as the Kelpies, as a starting-seven regular since debuting in 2022, while Hederics earned a squad selection that year.
Hederics has represented both South Australia and Victoria at the national level.
The Kelpies squad will be chosen after the national championships in April.
“He’s tracking well,” said Richardson, who is also Victoria men’s team head coach.
“We’ve been teammates for years and years in the men’s Victorian state team and I continue to see him improve. He’s a great shot.”
Richardson, who grew up in Warracknabeal but is now based in Melbourne, said it was great to re-engage in community sport via the clinic at the Mildura Sporting Precinct.
The duo ran two juniors clinics, an open-age session and a coaching masterclass which included coaching philosophy, proper skill techniques and tips on dialling up and down drills to match competency.
“Amanda opened the dialogue and Jake and my schedules aligned and we were both able to come up,” Richardson, an accredited coach, said.
“We had good participation,” Richardson said. “It was great to re-engage in community sport.
“Growing up in a regional area I know there are not many opportunities to work with higher level coaches.
“It was nice to be involved.”
The national championships will be held at Melbourne’s State Netball and Hockey Centre from April 13-19.
